OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: Cherrywood Design Studio, full color conversion by moi
• Materials: 36 ct “Haven” Edinburgh linen by Picture this Plus, silks & Kreinik as explained below
• Size: 9″ x 10.2″
• Time to stitch: 16 days

This piece is very special to me, it captures many of the things I love about stitching and incorporates some of my favorite colors.

The pattern is fine.  However the colors as charted weren’t quite too my taste.  Apparently I am very picky, since 2 possible colorways are provided.  So I picked a neutral for the background flower pattern (Waterlilies Sandstone) and 4 bright jewel tones from my stash.  3 of them worked out, but I had to find a new emerald green.  Then I decided it would be good to have a different color for each phrase (though the pattern only incorporates 4 colors plus the background neutral).  Lots of trial and error ensued for the gold line.  It is hard to find a yellow that will stand out among all those bright jewel tones.  Some colors look great when you’re stitching with your face close to the piece, but they don’t register from several feet away (like normal viewing distance after the piece is framed).  

The colors used are from top to bottom: Waterlilies Cardinal, Hand Dyed Fibers Silk by Vicki Clayton Acts of Violets, Fiberlicious Filament Silk in Sapphire, Carrie’s Creations Silk Floss in Emerald, Rainbow Gallery Splendor Silk in Light Marigold, Carrie’s Creations Silk Floss in Sassy, Rainbow Gallery Splendor Silk in Neon Green, Carrie’s Creations Silk Floss in Sapphire.  This was my first time using Carrie’s Creations Silk Floss, and it is really nice, reasonably priced, great for a project like this when you want to try some new colors without breaking the bank.

In the end, the gold and the light green were just a bit too faint, so I backstitched the marigold with Kreinik #4 braid, OO2HL, and the neon green with the Emerald used above.  It seemed right to add a little sparkle to the piece, anyway.  The fabric, Picture this Plus “Haven” which I found at The Stitching Post in Catonsville, MD is the perfect sky blue.  I opted for 36 count so I could fit the piece on a fat eighth.  Otherwise, you would need a fat quarter. 

I’ll post again after I frame this- I want a silver or bronze frame to hang above my stitchy spot.